Culture

Namibia's first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah stands with her fist in the air. She is smiling and wears a green outfit and sunglasses. There are three women next to hear and a bouquet of flowers in front of her.
News

Namibia’s First Female President Appoints New Women-Majority Cabinet

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reduced the number of ministries, citing the need to reduce the cost of governance and improve efficiency.

Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians attend the Christmas Eve mass at the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Cairo, on January 6, 2018.
News

Here’s Why Egyptians Celebrate Christmas on January 7

Often considered the gatekeepers of ancient Egyptian traditions, Orthodox Copts celebrate Christmas with traditional recipes.

A man casts his vote at a polling station during 2020 Ghanaian general election in Accra, Ghana on December 7, 2020.
News

As the 2024 Ghana Elections Draw Near, Voters Express Uncertainty About the Major Candidates

Ghana’s 2024 elections are crucial to the future of the country’s socio-economic development. However, voters are unsure if the two major candidates are up to the task.

Kouoh in a statement expressed her hope to compose an exhibition that will carry meaning for the world we live in and the world we want to make.
Art

Koyo Kouoh Leads a Historic Shift in Art and Curation

Koyo Kouoh, Lesley Lokko, Rujeko Hockleyd and Aindrea Emelife are redefining global art, bringing African women's voices to the forefront.

A man wearing a yellow floral shit is seen dancing with a blue whistle in his mouth amidst a group of other dancers.
Culture

Amidst an Economic Crisis, is Detty December Going to be Different This Year?

The state of the economy in popular end-of-year celebration locations like Ghana and Nigeria has affected the scale of events, pushing people to focus on smaller, more intimate gatherings.

A poster for ‘Yasuke: Way of the Butterfly’ showing Yasuke stretching his sword.
Literature

‘Yasuke: Way of the Butterfly’ Tells the Origin Story of a Real-Life African Samurai

The story of the first Black samurai, who’s often wrongly portrayed as a slave, is told from an African perspective for the first time in the South African graphic novel ‘Yasuke: Way of the Butterfly.’

Women carry bags as they walk in front of shops in Libya's southern city of Sebha on September 4, 2024.
Politics

Between Online Surveillance and Morality Police, Libyan Women Fight For Their Place in Public Life

Libya’s proposed morality police is the latest escalation in a pattern of increasing violence against women.

This is a still of Noxolo Dlamini in ‘Death of a Whistleblower.’
Culture

30 Years of South African Film to be Celebrated at the 2024 African Diaspora Film Festival in New York

“30 Years of the New South Africa” is part of the packed ADIFF 2024 schedule, with over 80 films from more than 20 countries.

Commuters alight at the Marina Station of Lagos Blue Line rail during the inauguration of commercial operation of the mass transit in Lagos on September 4, 2023.
Culture

How Young Nigerians are Coping with Black Tax

For young Nigerians who dedicate a portion of their income to supporting their families, the issue isn't the will—it's the means.

The cast of Tom Mboya stands in a row on stage, raising their fists and holding Kenyan flags, facing an applauding audience.
Art

How do You Say Goodbye to ‘Tom Mboya?’ By Making Space for More Kenyan Stories on Stage

Too Early For Birds bid farewell to their critically acclaimed production about a key political figure, Tom Mboya, with plans to spotlight more untold narratives from Kenya’s rich history.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 65th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States.
News

Nicknames Are a Form of Protest Against Oppressive Administrations in Africa

From T-Pain to Cupcake, humor has become Africa's secret weapon against bad governance and a way to survive trying times.

Tunisian participant Karma laughing in conversation in a pod during the first phase of the experiment, wearing a white shirt and purple hairband.
Film + TV

How Representative is ‘Love Is Blind: Habibi’?

After Season 1 of 'Love Is Blind: Habibi' aired, many online users expressed their shock at the male participants’ “misogynistic comments,” but Arab women weren’t surprised.

Fuse ODG performs at Indigo at the O2 on November 26, 2015, in London, England.
Latest

Fuse ODG Criticizes Band Aid Single for its Limiting View of Africa as Always in Need of Aid

The British Ghanaian artist, Fuse ODG, raises valid points about how prevailing negative stereotypes of Africa are costing the continent.

This is a still from ‘Mothers of Chibok’, a documentary by Joel ‘Kachi Benson.
Video

Watch Exclusive Clips from ‘Mothers of Chibok,’ Highlighting Women’s Resilience After Kidnapping Crisis

Joel ‘Kachi Benson’s documentary focuses on four mothers whose daughters were kidnapped as “women bravely holding onto hope in the face of adversity.”

Sudanese rapper Montiyago.
Music

Is the Rise of Sudanese Rap Breaking Down Racist Stereotypes?

Sudanese rap is having a fantastic year, introducing the North African region to its unique sound and dialect, but are non-Sudanese really listening?

Nigerian artist Tems performs onstage during a music festival in London.
Latest

Tems' Grammy Nominations Can Help Us Reconsider How We View Afrobeats Artists

By nabbing nominations across R&B, African Music and Global Music categories, Tems illustrates the multiplicity of being an Afrobeats artist — and why we must insist on it.

A diverse group of cosplayers in various costumes, including a character with a scythe, a character with twin blades, and others in colorful outfits, strike poses on stage at the cosplay competition during NAICCON.
Events

How Nairobi Comic Con is Shaping the Future of Kenya’s Creative Scene

From humble beginnings to a regional powerhouse, NAICCON’s 10th anniversary reflects the rise of East Africa’s comic, gaming and creative scene.

Mutua Matheka, dressed in a colorful robe and patterned shirt at the opening of his exhibit FRAGMENTS.
Art

Mutua Matheka on Capturing Nairobi’s Essence in His First Exhibition, ‘FRAGMENTS’

The celebrated photographer’s first exhibition invites visitors to experience Nairobi's skyscape through immersive reflections, light and sound.

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OkayAfrica is the premiere digital platform bringing the worlds of African music, art, culture, style, sports and politics to a global audience. Founded in 2010 as an extension of Okayplayer, OkayAfrica serves as a cultural bridge to foster deeper understanding of the continent, while also building meaningful connections with its diaspora.

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